(All pictures by Manny “Mitts” Murillo / Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions)

(L-R) — John Anderson, Neon Star Media; co-promoters Keith Veltre and future Hall of Famer Roy Jones, Jr., Steve “The Dragon” Claggett and Derek Stevens, Owner and CEO of the D Las Vegas and Downtown Las Vegas Events Center

On a stacked card that had fans on their feet all night, Canadian Steve “The Dragon” Claggett (24-4-1, 16 Koó) upset Emmanuel “Renegade” Robles (15-1-1, 5 Koó) i roto i te hui matua, promoted in association with Bobby D Presents, but it was Neeco “The Rooster” Macias (13-0, 7 Koó) who stole the show in the co-feature

Te “Knockout Night at the D” raupapa, te aroaro e

Jim “J.R.” Ross a Al Bernstein called the action from ringside on CBS Sports Whatunga in North America and internationally via ESPN.

Claggett, fighting out of Calgary, Canada, dropped down one weight class. Coming off a disputed 10-round decision loss to Chris van Heerden this past April, also at the Downtown Las Vegas Event Center, Claggett won a 10-round majority decision (98-92, 98-92, 94-96)te po nei for the vacant North American Boxing Association (NABA) welterweight title. His expert body work allowed him to dictate the pace of the boxing match.

“This is a long time coming, Claggett admitted. “I took the loss (vs. van Heerden) in stride, vowing to go back to the gym and make changes. I went down to 140 (lbs.) and it was the right decision. Au kaha. I I really worked hard.

“I landed a couple of shots that hurt him noticeably. Te uaua ia. Robles is a champion in the making. I ahau i te rota o te faatura no ia. Ko toku ora tenei. Te reira (his loss to van Heerden) fueled me. The fire’s back in me. I love fighting in Las Vegas.”

Neeco “The Rooster” Macias (L) stole the show to became a rising star

The co-feature showcased a pair undefeated junior middleweights and from the opening bell it was a real firefight. Macias forced Rolando “Rola” Garza (9-1, 6 Koó), a 3-time Mexican National amateur champion, to fight his fight. Macia’s aggressive style, always coming forward, throwing punches from every conceivable angle, ruled the coop. Garza got caught up in the action and paid for it, although the score after was 39-37, 39-37 for Macias, 39-37 for Garza, entering the fifth and final round. Macia’s constant pressure controlled the action, wearing down Garza, and paid dividends as he dropped Garza in the fifth. Kaitautoko Jay Nady had seen enough, halting the fight at that point as much due to the damage Garza had suffered in the first four rounds as the knockdown.

A rising star was born in Macia, who captured the vacant World Boxing Association (WBC) United States junior middleweight championship. “It’s conditioning, a lot of work,” Macias explained the reason for his non-stop action before crowing loudly in the ring. “I stuck to the game plan. I knew he’d come to fight with a lot of skill to out-box me and get points. My game plan was throw a lot of upper cuts and punches from every angle. It was all about throwing combinations.

“He had a lot pf power, so I used defense to block punches. In the last round, I put punches together. I think the fight was stopped a little early and he could have kept going, but I didn’t see what he saw, and the referee was looking out for the fighters so we can fight another day.”

Jeremy Nichols remained undefeated

In the television opener, flashy Las Vegas welterweight Jeremy “J-Flash” Nichols (6-0, 2 Koó) kept rolling, winning a 4-round unanimous decision over Steve Belmontes (2-1, O KOs). Nichols outworked his opponent, consistently beating Belmontes to the punch with his superior quickness.

“I think it could have been a little flashier,” Nichols admitted. “But give it up to my opponent, he came to fight. With more than 100 runaruna whawhai, he could take a punch but he kept coming. My goal was to take everything from him and make him fight my fight. His hands were a little slower and he took a lot of good body shots and counters.”

Idaho junior flyweight Marina “Rocky” Ramirez (40-36, 40-36, 40-36) pitched a 4-round shutout, hinga Rachel “The Black Widow” Sazoff (0-2) e tatau o 40-36 puta noa i te poari. “I landed a lot of shots,” Ramirez noted. “I respect her, she was tough. The game plan worked and we got the win.”

Randy Moreno (L) keeps improving

Twenty-year-old Randy Moreno (4-0, 3 Koó) turned in the best performance of his young career, stopping Australian junior lightweight “12” Gaige Ireland (2-1-2, 2 Koó) i roto i te toru o tawhio. Moreno fights with the poise of a much older fighter, effectively counter punching from the opening bell. “Mana'o te reira nui,” Moreno commented. “I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t forGil Martinez (upoko kaiwhakangungu). He is notorious for his training methods and it’s paid off. I’ve been with him 10 tau. Fighting here at home means the world to me.”

Ismail Muwendo (L) noho tūturu

Tūturu amanaki Kōmāmā Ismail “Sharp Shooter” Muwendo, fighting out of Minneapolis by way of his native Uganda, pai ake ki 18-0 (12 Koó), taking a one-sided six-round unanimous decision from Eliseo Cruz (9-2-1, 6 Koó). “I think I did well, I was out of the ring a long time,” Muwendo commented. He’s a tough guy who was ready.”

Max Ornelas (R) opened the show in grand style

Las Vegas favorite Max “Baby Face Assassin” Ornelas (4-0, 2 Koó) remained unbeaten by way of a 4-round unanimous decision over Honatana “Johnny Boy” Quiorz (6-5, 1 KO). “I was confident (of winning the decision,” the 18-year-old Ornelas said. “I was out-boxing him. I love fighting here. I have a lot of support from family and friends; I’m motivated when I hear them.”

Te “Knockout Night at the D” series was developed in partnership with the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center and Neon Star Media.

CBS Sports Network is available across the country through local cable, ataata me ngā ratonga telco me mā amiorangi i runga i DirecTV Channel 221 a te rihi Channel Whatunga 158. Mō ētahi atu pārongo, tae atu ki te rärangi hötaka tonu, me te ki te tiki CBS Sports Whatunga, haere ki tewww.cbssportsnetwork.com.

RIVAL BOXING GEAR is the main sponsor of the “Knockout Night at the D” raupapa (www.rivalboxing.com, Twitter: @RivalBoxingGear

Websites: www.dlvec.com, www.thed.com, www.royjonesjrboxing.com,www.knockoutnightboxing.com

Twitter: @thedlasvegas, @dlvEventsCenter, @DerekJStevens, @BoxingatheDLV, @RoyJonesJrBoxing

Instagram: @dlvec, @thedlasvegas, @RoyJonesJrBoxing

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/dlvec, www.Facebook.com/thedlasvegas

Follow these fighters on Twitter: @SDragonClaggett, @Jflashgang, @SteveTheBoxer, @IMuwendo, @RandyMoreno